8. Metro Area - What And Why?

What Is Meant By Metro Area?

A Metro or Metropolitan Area commonly describes a region, which can vary in size and shape, but usually consists of a densely populated urban area - typically at its center - and other, surrounding areas that are less densely populated but generally have some connection to the central area. The connection may be that the inhabitants of such surrounding areas work in the central area, receive governmental services from it, or rely on its retail, social, and other resources.

A Metro Area is often named for the urban area or may be named for a regional feature that it incorporates, such as a county or other governmental entity.

We include Metro Areas as a quick reference point for visitors who, when viewing the entry of a church situated in a small and obscure locale, often ask 'What is it near?' - meaning 'What is the nearest sizeable place with which I might be familiar or that I can use as a point of reference?'

The names that we have used to designate Metro Areas are not necessarily synonymous with Metro Areas as those are defined by governmental agencies, such as Census Bureaus or other geopolitical entities. Additionally, there are no hard and fast rules of distance by which we have ascribed a location to a Metro Area; indeed, it has been done most often by the unscientific method of eye-balling a map. In general, however, you can anticipate that a location will not be ascribed to a Metropolitan Area if it is outside a 75 mile distant radius from the namesaked urban area or feature to which it is ascribed.

Teachings of Christ

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 ESV)

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, drive away from me the spirit of despondency, carelessness, love of power, and idle chatter. (Prostration)

Rather grant to me, Your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humility, patience, and love. (Prostration)

Yes, O Lord and King, grant that I may see my own faults and not condemn my brother; for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration)

Random Proverb

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you." (Proverbs 3:1,2 ESV)

Pray Without Ceasing

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Wisdom from the Church Fathers

"'And [Naaman] dipped himself . . . seven times in the Jordan' [2 Kgs. 5:14]. It was not for nothing that Naaman of old, when suffering from leprosy, was purified upon his being baptized, but [this served] as an indication to us. For as we are lepers in sin, we are made clean, by means of the sacred water and the invocation of the Lord, from our old transgressions, being spiritually regenerated as new-born babes, even as the Lord has declared: `Except a man be born again through water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'"